De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates
Ultraviolet-protective compounds, such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and related gadusols produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine invertebrates, are critical for the survival of reef-building corals and other marine organisms exposed to high-solar irradiance. These compounds hav...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2015-05-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/05919 |
| _version_ | 1811181459756548096 |
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| author | Andrew R Osborn Khaled H Almabruk Garrett Holzwarth Shumpei Asamizu Jane LaDu Kelsey M Kean P Andrew Karplus Robert L Tanguay Alan T Bakalinsky Taifo Mahmud |
| author_facet | Andrew R Osborn Khaled H Almabruk Garrett Holzwarth Shumpei Asamizu Jane LaDu Kelsey M Kean P Andrew Karplus Robert L Tanguay Alan T Bakalinsky Taifo Mahmud |
| author_sort | Andrew R Osborn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ultraviolet-protective compounds, such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and related gadusols produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine invertebrates, are critical for the survival of reef-building corals and other marine organisms exposed to high-solar irradiance. These compounds have also been found in marine fish, where their accumulation is thought to be of dietary or symbiont origin. In this study, we report the unexpected discovery that fish can synthesize gadusol de novo and that the analogous pathways are also present in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Furthermore, we demonstrate that engineered yeast containing the fish genes can produce and secrete gadusol. The discovery of the gadusol pathway in vertebrates provides a platform for understanding its role in these animals, and the possibility of engineering yeast to efficiently produce a natural sunscreen and antioxidant presents an avenue for its large-scale production for possible use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:18:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ff198e4b844453a9891c92908ac13a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:18:06Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ff198e4b844453a9891c92908ac13a52022-12-22T04:32:17ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2015-05-01410.7554/eLife.05919De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebratesAndrew R Osborn0Khaled H Almabruk1Garrett Holzwarth2Shumpei Asamizu3Jane LaDu4Kelsey M Kean5P Andrew Karplus6Robert L Tanguay7Alan T Bakalinsky8Taifo Mahmud9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9639-526XDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States; Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United StatesUltraviolet-protective compounds, such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and related gadusols produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine invertebrates, are critical for the survival of reef-building corals and other marine organisms exposed to high-solar irradiance. These compounds have also been found in marine fish, where their accumulation is thought to be of dietary or symbiont origin. In this study, we report the unexpected discovery that fish can synthesize gadusol de novo and that the analogous pathways are also present in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Furthermore, we demonstrate that engineered yeast containing the fish genes can produce and secrete gadusol. The discovery of the gadusol pathway in vertebrates provides a platform for understanding its role in these animals, and the possibility of engineering yeast to efficiently produce a natural sunscreen and antioxidant presents an avenue for its large-scale production for possible use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.https://elifesciences.org/articles/05919vertebrategadusolsunscreenmycosporine2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase |
| spellingShingle | Andrew R Osborn Khaled H Almabruk Garrett Holzwarth Shumpei Asamizu Jane LaDu Kelsey M Kean P Andrew Karplus Robert L Tanguay Alan T Bakalinsky Taifo Mahmud De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates eLife vertebrate gadusol sunscreen mycosporine 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase |
| title | De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| title_full | De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| title_fullStr | De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| title_short | De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| title_sort | de novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates |
| topic | vertebrate gadusol sunscreen mycosporine 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/05919 |
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